Comparison is the Thief of Joy

As somewhat of a technological dinosaur, I only signed up to twitter around a year ago. I follow a number of people from leaders to entertainers and some who fall into both categories like Julius Malema. I must say that I have not found it all that useful. It does make one appear busy on the bus at the airport and some people might even be fooled into thinking I know how my phone works as a result, but the information shared in those small bite sizes has in my view been poor and mostly irrelevant.

That was until the other day, Bob Skinstad tweeted this quote: “Comparison is the Thief of Joy”! It was like a bolt of lightning for me and the more I stewed on it, the more meaning I got out of it.

Why and How?
Imagine a very close friend of yours tells you how much they earn and it is 4 times more than your earnings. Or an ex colleague joins another business and they sell it to a big company and get paid out a fortune. When you hear things like that you feel this green substance emerging in your stomach. Envy I think it is called? You walk away still simmering with a mixture of jealously, anger and frustration, thinking “I am as good as they are, if not better than they are”.

Then you remember the quote “Comparison is the Thief of Joy!” and realise that a minute before learning the news you were very proud, content & happy in your career, earnings, marriage and family life. You spend a moment recognising the green substance in your stomach for what it is and go about your business perhaps just pausing to remind yourself of what you do have.

I hope this helps you in your life!

For a laugh, we will put it on our twitter account @ veritas_wealth and you can follow us there.